U.S. resumes work with elite Indonesian unit

INDONESIA

Craig Whitlock, Washington Post

Published 4:00 am, Friday, July 23, 2010

The U.S. military said Thursday that it would resume relations and training with Indonesia's special forces, an elite group blamed for atrocities and repression during the country's dark years of authoritarianism.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a visit here, said the United States would end its 12-year prohibition on contacts and assistance to the Indonesian special forces after the Obama administration concluded that the unit had cleaned up its ranks and was sufficiently committed to human rights.

"These initial steps will take place within the limits of U.S. law and do not signal any lessening of the importance we place on human rights and accountability," Gates said after meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Although the Pentagon has been pressing for years to resume contacts with the Indonesian special forces, human-rights groups and some U.S. lawmakers have resisted, arguing that the unit has stymied efforts to hold current and former military leaders responsible for kidnappings, assassinations and other crimes.